Press Release - Marathon Niedersachsen - 3/12/13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

          Kiptum Versus April: A Duel of Two Champions in Hannover

The TUI Marathon Hannover will see a duel of two champions on 5th May. 
While Kenya's defending champion Joseph Kiptum returns to the race South 
Africa's Lusapho April has also been signed by the organisers. April had 
won in 2011. It will be the target in the women's race to finally improve 
the course record to a time well under 2:30. Kenya's Julia Muraga looks 
like she has the potential to deliver such a performance. The TUI Marathon 
Hannover is an IAAF Bronze Label Race.

While two champions return the runner with the fastest time entered so far 
comes to Hannover for the first time: Wilfred Kigen clocked his personal 
best of 2:07:33 in Hamburg in 2007, when he was second. His biggest wins 
however came in Frankfurt, where he triumphed three times in a row from 
2005 to 2007 and established two course records. Additionally Wilfred 
Kigen, who is one of the most well-known African runners in Germany because 
of his fine performances in this country, had won the Hamburg Marathon in 
2010.  Although 38 years old now Wilfred Kigen has shown that he can run 
well beyond the age of 35. It was in Frankfurt in October 2011 where he 
clocked 2:10:17.

Defending champion Joseph Kiptum will be eager to show his full potential 
in Hannover this time. He had won after a thrilling finish in 2012, just 
edging out Ethiopia's Megersa Bacha Chikuala who was given the same time of 
2:09:56. However Joseph Kiptum had suffered of stomach pains during the 
race. This time his goal will be the course record of 2:08:52.

Besides Lusapho April, who had clocked 2:09:25 in Hannover in 2011 which 
still stands as his personal best, there are two Kenyans to watch: David 
Kisang will come to Hannover with a PB of 2:08:54 and Wesley Kibett Langat 
won the Nairobi Marathon in 2012. In high altitude he clocked 2:10:40.

The women's course record still stands above 2:30 which by today's 
standards is clearly not appropriate for a race like the TUI Marathon 
Hannover. Two Kenyans should be able to do much better than the current 
record of 2:30:17. Julia Muraga has a personal best of 2:26:00. This 
performance is already five years old, but she did very well in last year's 
high-class Osaka Marathon, finishing second. Meanwhile Mercy Jerotich 
Kibarus could be in with a surprise. So far her career best stands at 
2:44:56. However she showed very promising form recently, clocking 68:18 
minutes in the Rome Ostia Half Marathon where she finished fifth.

More information about the TUI Marathon Hannover is available online at: 
www.marathon-hannover.de 

                                  ###